If you’re playing NHL DFS on DraftKings or FanDuel, you already know goalies and stacks are high priority. But the secret edge to climbing tournaments is finding those sneaky defensemen who fly under the radar—the Horses & Heroes. In this article, I’ll reveal my favorite undervalued NHL defensemen plays for this slate, explain why they matter for DFS strategy, and show you how to plug these picks into your lineups. Join the DFS Army today and get full access to our Discord, tools, and analysis that back every recommendation.
Horse – A defenseman that is more chalky than others that is a catalyst for their team. These players usually have higher ceilings, and can be used as the glue to bring a stack together. They typically quarterback the top powerplay unit and log a ton of minutes.
Hero – A hero is a cheaper defenseman that will be a role player on their NHL team. They usually kill penalties and are the unsung heroes that block shots for their team. They typically garner low ownership, have high floors, and are the key pieces needed to take down tournaments.
Horses & Heroes: Top NHL Defensemen to Target for DFS Lineups
Jake Sanderson – Playing in Montreal is always a barn burner for most teams, and Ottawa is no exception. Ottawa plays fast and this is going to be a banger of a game. Sanderson is Mr Everything for the Senators and he is white hot scoring over a point per game over the past week. In a game offering fantasy goodness, play the best player that plays the most minutes out of anyone on either team.
Mar 27, 2023; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; The Ottawa Senators celebrate a goal scored by left wing Tim Stutzle (18) in the third period against the Florida Panthers at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Andrew Peeke – A top 4 defenseman that kills penalties and blocks a ton of shots is always going to be fantasy relevant. Detroit loves to shoot and elevates their play even more at home, so Peeke is probably planning on getting in the way of anything that moves here in the Motor City.
Aaron Ekblad – The Leafs are heating up and I am sure the Panthers will want to put a screeching halt to that. Ekblad is a hero that plays top pairing minutes and kills penalties for the champion Panthers, and he is probably going to play with an edge in a big rivalry home game like this.
Artyom Levshunov – Levshunov is a young player finding his way and running the surprisingly good Blackhawks top powerplay unit. He plays big minutes and is a surprisingly good skater for his size. Vegas is a tough place to play, but with the brand of hockey they play, I think Levshunov can find some fantasy value here.
Joel Edmundson – This is a pretty gross hero for me. He plays solid top pairing minutes and kills penalties, which is exactly what the Kings like to do. The Kings play solid defensively and are one of the lowest scoring teams in the league. They also are against the hot Washington Capitals who shoot a lot, so Edmundson has a path to a shot block bonus which is his bread and butter.
Darren Raddysh – Assuming Victor Hedman misses again, Raddysh is slated as the top pairing guy that also sees the top powerplay time from the point. Tampa is white hot and are against an Islanders team that is kind of just treading water right now. This game is a weird
🏁 Final Thoughts — Ride Your Edge
Every NHL slate is loaded with obvious plays, but it’s the sharp eye for undervalued Horses and Heroes that separates casual players from consistent winners. The best part? You don’t have to do it alone. Our members are crushing NHL DFS every season using the same projections, tools, and strategy chats that fuel this article.
👉 Join the DFS Army today and turn your lineups into weapons. Get full access to our NHL cheat sheets, optimizer, and private Discord coaching for every slate.
